Voter registration: cancellation: deceased persons.

Existing law requires the Secretary of State to adopt regulations to facilitate the availability of death statistics from the State Department of Health Services for use by the Secretary of State and county elections officials to cancel affidavits of registration of deceased persons. This bill would authorize the Secretary of State to also seek an agreement with the federal Social Security Administration to facilitate the availability of death statistics from that agency. The bill would require the Secretary of State, upon obtaining such an agreement, to adopt regulations as specified. Beginning on January 1, 2026, this bill would also require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to use information obtained pursuant to these provisions to cancel affidavits of registration of deceased persons. By imposing new duties on county elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.